Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has delivered a major update on Granit Xhaka’s future, revealing that the Switzerland international is “pushing hard” to secure a move to Chelsea this summer.
Fabrizio Romano: World Cup Star Xhaka ‘Pushing Hard’ to Join Chelsea for Xabi Alonso Reunion
The Sunderland midfielder’s primary motivation is the chance to reunite with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.
The pair previously worked together at Bayer Leverkusen, where they won the Bundesliga title during the 2023/24 campaign.
Romano told Time2Play: “A year ago, Granit Xhaka was desperate to move to Italy.
He was Igli Tare’s top target for AC Milan’s 2025/2026 project, but the deal collapsed, and Xhaka ended up at Sunderland.
Today, Chelsea is getting dead serious about him. Xhaka wants back into London and is pushing hard to reunite with Xabi Alonso”.
Chelsea have already submitted a verbal proposal to Sunderland, and Romano reports they “will improve it very soon”.
However, Sunderland are proving difficult negotiators. The Black Cats signed Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a total fee of £17.5 million and remain adamant they will not sell their captain.
Chelsea’s initial £8 million bid was swiftly rejected, with reports suggesting a second offer of around £10 million could be forthcoming.
Xhaka, who is currently representing Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, has already agreed on personal terms with Chelsea.
For Chelsea, signing a player who turns 34 in September would mark a “radical shift” in transfer policy.
The club has fielded the Premier League’s youngest squad for the past two seasons and has not selected any player aged 30 or over during that period.
Alonso is clearly the driving force behind the pursuit, with his four-year contract as Chelsea manager officially beginning on July 1.
The Spanish coach values Xhaka’s leadership and experience qualities the midfielder demonstrated while captaining Sunderland to a seventh-place Premier League finish and Europa League qualification last season.
Chelsea are expected to return with an improved offer, confident that Xhaka’s determination to reunite with Alonso will eventually force the deal through.
